I was going to post a small review on my experiences this morning but it ended up being more lengthy than expected so I just added it as a blog.  First paragraph and link below.  Be interesting to hear other gamers initial thoughts

THE CHRONCILES OF SPELLBORN - Initial thoughts

In light of the fact I am becoming increasingly tired with my current list of games (still enjoying LotRO but I need some PvP in my life). I decided to download the trial for The Chronicles of Spellborn. I never expected to do this as I am not a fan of the artwork in the screenshots and I read that the EU server would be separate from the UK one (however this is not the case) but for those who are interested here are my thoughts after 2 hours of game time.

http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/chryses/042009/3684_THE-CHRONCILES-OF-SPELLBORN-Initial-thoughts

That's a great review, and I like how honest you've been. I hope more people read it ^^

Game is crap in my opinion.. i dont really share the op  review..

I downloaded it yest played it for a while yest and today.. and i can understand the game as a free 2 play.. now for a paying mmorpg people just demand more.

The loot system is so wonderful that at lvl 8 [ wich took +- 6 - 7 hrs of play ] i still had not found any item with or without stats on it i could or any class could use (?!). Theres no incentive at all for looting.

Furthermore no quest guide / pointers. while that is no issue for some, in todays mmo market it is a requirement.

There is no voice on the npcs wich kinda feels weird.

There are no mounts. Graphics look like a weird stylized version of WoW carttoonish style.

Combat system is slow and sluggish, and agro management can get tricky too.

The fact that at character creation you can define the look of your char and color and gear kinda take the fun of letting the player find and customize his/her own gear aswel.

The world feels empty and senseless.. really weird and alien like in a way that i doubt it will promote the game.

Overall.. another game for the trashbin in my opinion.

Originally posted by EduardoASG

Game is crap in my opinion.. i dont really share the op  review..

Everyone has the right to an opinion so don't take what I say the wrong way. I'm just sharing some of my opinions too.

I downloaded it yest played it for a while yest and today.. and i can understand the game as a free 2 play.. now for a paying mmorpg people just demand more.

The loot system is so wonderful that at lvl 8 [ wich took +- 6 - 7 hrs of play ] i still had not found any item with or without stats on it i could or any class could use (?!). Theres no incentive at all for looting.

Funny, I found my first Sigil at level 1. My wife and I killed Old Wilfred right after landing on the docks. But its not a loot-centered game. I know its hard to understand this after playing Blizzard games for the last 10 years. Blizz kinda spoiled us all on the loot-craze.

Furthermore no quest guide / pointers. while that is no issue for some, in todays mmo market it is a requirement.

No, not a requirement. Its called hand-holding and some of us would rather figure things out by reading the quest text. It promotes exploring and gives a greater feeling of accomplishment when goals are reached. It also only takes a few seconds to do.

There is no voice on the npcs wich kinda feels weird.

Agreed, but the ambient sounds are very natural and nicely done. The game certainly has a *different* aesthetics about it, but not necessarily a bad one.

There are no mounts. Graphics look like a weird stylized version of WoW carttoonish style.

I like the unique style. I'd like mounts too and they are coming. Soon I hope. Still, get PeP 5 and your running very fast. The pace of the game improves dramatically once you get a few ranks of PeP.

Combat system is slow and sluggish, and agro management can get tricky too.

I like tricky agro management. It beats the crap out of threat meters and raid bosses. Also, the pace of combat picks up a lot as you level up a few times. It does seem very slow at first though when you're trying to kill your first few bears.

The fact that at character creation you can define the look of your char and color and gear kinda take the fun of letting the player find and customize his/her own gear aswel.

Yes, you can customize your gear as you go. You get regular drops from MOB's that let you replace your gear. Some of it is very unique looking. Spellborn could use a lot more of it though.

The world feels empty and senseless.. really weird and alien like in a way that i doubt it will promote the game.

Senseless only because you didn't bother reading quest text. At least I am assuming that is the case since you were also complaining about the lack of quest pointers. In fact, I feel a greater sense of being in TCoS than I have in any MMORPG I have played.

Overall.. another game for the trashbin in my opinion.

Enjoy playing... erm... whatever handholding auto-attack game you choose to try next!

Very fair "first impression" review.

I'd like to see maybe a follow up review after you've spent some more time with the game.

As a side note: Bears in general take forever to kill....they have a lot of health. Coupled with the fact that in early levels, you don't have many attacks, and your damage is very poor...killing bears can be tedious work.

Later in the game, when you are killing a dozen mobs at once and they go down in just a few seconds...ah.....now that's Spellborn.

Originally posted by Wharg0ul

As a side note: Bears in general take forever to kill....they have a lot of health. Coupled with the fact that in early levels, you don't have many attacks, and your damage is very poor...killing bears can be tedious work.

Later in the game, when you are killing a dozen mobs at once and they go down in just a few seconds...ah.....now that's Spellborn.

Well, to be honest, that's how it should be. No one is an awesome fighter at level 1. They need to train and learn. That is why the Spellborn skills system is so good.

And yeah, loads of stuff coming, just be patient :D

Thanks for the comments all.  I just added an update after my 2nd day of playing. So far the combat has been my biggest surprise

http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/chryses/042009/3684_THE-CHRONCILES-OF-SPELLBORN-Initial-thoughts

I enjoyed this, well done :)

About the bad points you made, I agree with the need for faster travel. I hope mounts are something that will be along very soon. Hopefully theyll be something interesting rather than just a 'horse' or what have you, and be linked some some aspect of house or pve.

Ive heard that they want to make mounts fully customisable by letting you add armour and decorations, though im not sure if this is just a rumour.

Originally posted by chryses

Thanks for the comments all.  I just added an update after my 2nd day of playing. So far the combat has been my biggest surprise

http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/chryses/042009/3684_THE-CHRONCILES-OF-SPELLBORN-Initial-thoughts

 

Excellent impressions. It looks like the game is starting to get its hooks into you. It took three characters leveling each of them to the freemium cap before I really felt like I had the combat sytem figured out.

I agree about the need for mounts. In fact, I am tempted to hold off on playing until they are implemented. I think they would add a LOT to the gameplay experience.

Also, I've recently been invited to beta test a couple soon to be released titles that I was very excited about. After playing these games for a few evenings, I came to the conclusion that I may be sticking with Spellborn for longer than I initially thought. Both titles had meaningless gibberish quest text that is meant to be skipped and clicked right through. Both had map markers for all objectives. In the end I had no idea why I was doing these quests. I had no sense of purpose. I was just going through the motions with the only goal being to level up my character.

Originally posted by Aganazer

Originally posted by chryses

Thanks for the comments all.  I just added an update after my 2nd day of playing. So far the combat has been my biggest surprise

http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/chryses/042009/3684_THE-CHRONCILES-OF-SPELLBORN-Initial-thoughts

 

 

Excellent impressions. It looks like the game is starting to get its hooks into you. It took three characters leveling each of them to the freemium cap before I really felt like I had the combat sytem figured out.

I agree about the need for mounts. In fact, I am tempted to hold off on playing until they are implemented. I think they would add a LOT to the gameplay experience.

Also, I've recently been invited to beta test a couple soon to be released titles that I was very excited about. After playing these games for a few evenings, I came to the conclusion that I may be sticking with Spellborn for longer than I initially thought. Both titles had meaningless gibberish quest text that is meant to be skipped and clicked right through. Both had map markers for all objectives. In the end I had no idea why I was doing these quests. I had no sense of purpose. I was just going through the motions with the only goal being to level up my character.

Its funny you say that.  I always thought I liked markers in a game but having to find the location or target can add a sense of achievement and with the combat being manual it feels like you have accomplished something.  Too many games have the usual auto aim and auto attack then repeat method, which is becoming quite stale for me. 

BTW I think I found the disco issue I wrote about in the blog.  Its a gameguard conflict with other apps.  Didn't have any issues last night.

Originally posted by EduardoASG

Game is crap in my opinion.. i dont really share the op  review..

I downloaded it yest played it for a while yest and today.. and i can understand the game as a free 2 play.. now for a paying mmorpg people just demand more.

The loot system is so wonderful that at lvl 8 [ wich took +- 6 - 7 hrs of play ] i still had not found any item with or without stats on it i could or any class could use (?!). Theres no incentive at all for looting.

Furthermore no quest guide / pointers. while that is no issue for some, in todays mmo market it is a requirement.

There is no voice on the npcs wich kinda feels weird.

There are no mounts. Graphics look like a weird stylized version of WoW carttoonish style.

Combat system is slow and sluggish, and agro management can get tricky too.

The fact that at character creation you can define the look of your char and color and gear kinda take the fun of letting the player find and customize his/her own gear aswel.

The world feels empty and senseless.. really weird and alien like in a way that i doubt it will promote the game.

Overall.. another game for the trashbin in my opinion.

you should dump yourself into the trashbin man. I ROFLed so much when I read your "observations" on the game...you sir are not even capable of playing WOW properly since even Blizzard was tactful enough not to add coloured outlines to the zones where you have to fulfill a quest. Go and watch some teletubbies...

Originally posted by HELLBITCH

Originally posted by EduardoASG

Game is crap in my opinion.. i dont really share the op  review..

I downloaded it yest played it for a while yest and today.. and i can understand the game as a free 2 play.. now for a paying mmorpg people just demand more.

The loot system is so wonderful that at lvl 8 [ wich took +- 6 - 7 hrs of play ] i still had not found any item with or without stats on it i could or any class could use (?!). Theres no incentive at all for looting.

Furthermore no quest guide / pointers. while that is no issue for some, in todays mmo market it is a requirement.

There is no voice on the npcs wich kinda feels weird.

There are no mounts. Graphics look like a weird stylized version of WoW carttoonish style.

Combat system is slow and sluggish, and agro management can get tricky too.

The fact that at character creation you can define the look of your char and color and gear kinda take the fun of letting the player find and customize his/her own gear aswel.

The world feels empty and senseless.. really weird and alien like in a way that i doubt it will promote the game.

Overall.. another game for the trashbin in my opinion.

you should dump yourself into the trashbin man. I ROFLed so much when I read your "observations" on the game...you sir are not even capable of playing WOW properly since even Blizzard was tactful enough not to add coloured outlines to the zones where you have to fulfill a quest. Go and watch some teletubbies...

I dont have much to add but just wanted to say that, 'Hellbitch' has to go up as one of the best names :)

What I have to disagree with mostly about Ed's post is the comment about 'Combat system is slow and sluggish',  TCOS out of all the games I have played, has probably the fastest and most fluid combat system.  I really can't understand how you came to your assumptions?  The game has fully twitch combat and requires thought and skill.  If you think this is slow and sluggish what other games are you playing that you can compare this against?

I have also noticed the lack of 'loot with stats' but I think this is a strength.  I get annoyed when I keep picking up 20 items that have multiple stats and just confuse the hell out of me.  Its not realsitic and the thrill of finding something new and exciting is diminished.  If I find a great item then I want to feel like I have something few others have.

Originally posted by Archnagel

And yeah, loads of stuff coming, just be patient :D

this BS can only come from someone who is new to mmos.....

Great well thought review. But its only from the noob area perspective :P Later on its get more interesting.

Originally posted by chryses

Originally posted by Aganazer

Originally posted by chryses

Thanks for the comments all.  I just added an update after my 2nd day of playing. So far the combat has been my biggest surprise

http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/chryses/042009/3684_THE-CHRONCILES-OF-SPELLBORN-Initial-thoughts

 

 

Excellent impressions. It looks like the game is starting to get its hooks into you. It took three characters leveling each of them to the freemium cap before I really felt like I had the combat sytem figured out.

I agree about the need for mounts. In fact, I am tempted to hold off on playing until they are implemented. I think they would add a LOT to the gameplay experience.

Also, I've recently been invited to beta test a couple soon to be released titles that I was very excited about. After playing these games for a few evenings, I came to the conclusion that I may be sticking with Spellborn for longer than I initially thought. Both titles had meaningless gibberish quest text that is meant to be skipped and clicked right through. Both had map markers for all objectives. In the end I had no idea why I was doing these quests. I had no sense of purpose. I was just going through the motions with the only goal being to level up my character.

 

Its funny you say that.  I always thought I liked markers in a game but having to find the location or target can add a sense of achievement and with the combat being manual it feels like you have accomplished something.  Too many games have the usual auto aim and auto attack then repeat method, which is becoming quite stale for me. 

BTW I think I found the disco issue I wrote about in the blog.  Its a gameguard conflict with other apps.  Didn't have any issues last night.

I have grown to like the fact that quest givers are marked on the map, but I am sooo glad that they didnt do an AoC on us and mark objectives on the minimap as well, or even worse put in glowing trails to follow... horrible.

Personally I find the current set up to be an ideal mix of minimap convienience and quest text led exploration/ discovery.

It sets me up (usually) clearly and then asks me to actually go do it for myself.. it dosent treat me like an idiot :)

Originally posted by vesavius

I have grown to like the fact that quest givers are marked on the map, but I am sooo glad that they didnt do an AoC on us and mark objectives on the minimap as well, or even worse put in glowing trails to follow... horrible.

Personally I find the current set up to be an ideal mix of minimap convienience and quest text led exploration/ discovery.

It sets me up (usually) clearly and then asks me to actually go do it for myself.. it dosent treat me like an idiot :)

 

The more I play TCoS and compare my experience with other MMORPG's, the more I think that marking objectives on the map is the worst thing that has happened to MMORPG's. It might be fine in a Diablo style hack fest game, but not a story driven game. This feature may ruin the entire next generation of MMORPG's.

How can anyone possibly hate on this game's combat system? Are you insane?

The reason I played WoW for all of two weeks was because of the combat system. Slow. Dull. Boring. Click skill and watch a time bar cast and whater. Oh yeah, and if you're about to die and you run away, your enemy can still hit you from like 10 fucking feet away or more (gotta add the crit, too).

In this game, you can literally flank and out-manuever your opponent, and in order for them to kill you they actually have to catch up to you and hit you.

this game is far from perfect but the combat system isn't anything to complain about. Absolutely insane.

Originally posted by Lydeck

How can anyone possibly hate on this game's combat system? Are you insane?

The reason I played WoW for all of two weeks was because of the combat system. Slow. Dull. Boring. Click skill and watch a time bar cast and whater. Oh yeah, and if you're about to die and you run away, your enemy can still hit you from like 10 fucking feet away or more (gotta add the crit, too).

In this game, you can literally flank and out-manuever your opponent, and in order for them to kill you they actually have to catch up to you and hit you.

 

this game is far from perfect but the combat system isn't anything to complain about. Absolutely insane.

evasion based on movement rather than a dice roll is nice. much more fun to fight a rogue that actually moves fast to evade my attacks, rather than stand there hacking away at me evading my hits.  It definitly takes practice to play well in this game.